Compliance
What is an export-limit setting on a home hybrid inverter in South Africa?
An export-limit setting tells the hybrid (usually via CT clamps or a smart meter) to reduce inverter output so grid export stays at zero or under a capped kW — matching your metro or Eskom permission. It is a compliance and savings tool, not a substitute for SSEG where registration is required.
Updated 27 October 2026 · Illustrative ranges — not a formal quote, credit decision or legal advice.
Answer first: Ask your installer to show the export-limit screen, the CT orientation, and a proof test (kettle on, export near zero) before you sign off — zero-export · CT clamps · SSEG need.
Why metros care
Unregistered export can trip protections, upset neighbours’ supply quality, and fail inspection. Lawful zero-export or capped export lets many homes start self-use while paperwork catches up — timelines still vary — SSEG timelines · bi-directional meters.
How the inverter knows
- CT clamps or a meter on the main incoming supply.
- Firmware export-limit / “zero soft” / “grid export power” menus (names differ by OEM).
- Fail-safe behaviour if the CT signal is lost — ask what the inverter does then.
Settings that belong on the as-built
- Export limit value (0 kW or approved cap).
- CT ratio / orientation photos.
- Firmware version.
- Proof-of-function screenshot or video.
- Who is allowed to change the password.
Savings impact
Zero-export does not kill the business case when self-use is designed well. It does kill fantasy models that assumed unlimited feed-in at import rates — self-use · feed-in · monthly savings.
Common failure modes
- CT on the wrong cable or reversed.
- Limit set in the app but not commissioned on the device.
- Geyser or EV load schedules fighting the limit logic.
- Password only on the installer’s phone when you need support years later.
After SSEG approval
Raise the cap only with written metro / Eskom conditions and a fresh proof test. Keep both the old and new screenshots in the warranty / sale pack — warranty transfer · SSEG steps.
Desk closing
Export-limit is a named line on a serious quote — get quotes · check a quote · read a quote.
Installer questions to send today
- Show me the setting / document / photo that proves this works on my DB.
- Price the labour and any refile risk as separate lines.
- Put the OEM manual page reference on the as-built.
- Train a household member and leave the password escrow note.
Related desk links
Read a quote · Choose installer · Red flags · Costs & savings · FAQ.
Worked homeowner checklist
- Photograph the relevant breaker, CT, inlet or portal screen today.
- File the screenshot with the CoC and SSEG pack.
- Ask two installers the same question and compare written answers.
- Refuse verbal-only assurances on compliance settings.
Zero soft vs hard trip — ask which you have
Some hybrids modulate AC output smoothly so export stays near 0 kW (soft limit). Others open a relay or shut PV when a threshold is crossed (harder behaviour). Soft limits are kinder to self-use; hard trips can flicker loads if mis-set. Write the OEM mode name on the as-built — zero-export desk · UPS vs hybrid.
Metro and Eskom permission layers
City Power, Cape Town, eThekwini, Tshwane, NMB and Eskom Homeflex each describe export differently. Your inverter limit must match the written permission, not a sales deck from another metro — Joburg steps · Cape Town steps · Homeflex · metro tariffs.
Proof test script (commissioning)
- Note idle export reading on portal and municipal meter.
- Switch on a large resistive load (kettle / heater) and watch solar rise into the load.
- Switch the load off; confirm export stays within the set limit.
- Photograph CT arrows and the settings screen.
- Store the clip with the CoC pack.
If export spikes when the CT cable is nudged, fix mechanical strain relief before handover — CT clamps.
Interaction with batteries and TOU
Export-limit does not replace a charge plan. On Cape Town TOU, you still decide when the battery may grid-charge and when it must reserve for evening peaks — TOU + battery · grid charge hub · self-use.
When to raise the cap
Only after the bi-directional meter is live and the approval letter states an export allowance. Change control: installer ticket, new screenshot, updated as-built revision. Buyers hate discovering a 0 kW limit when the listing promised feed-in income — warranty / sale pack · selling.
Installer quote language to demand
“Export-limit value, CT locations, fail-safe on CT loss, and post-SSEG target cap” as four explicit lines. If those are missing, the compliance story is incomplete — read a quote · SSEG cost.
South African primary documents to keep nearby
Metro SSEG guidelines, NRS 097 inverter listings, OEM manuals, and your CoC are the primary sources. Desk pages here translate those into homeowner checklists — they do not replace them. When a figure on a quote disagrees with the live metro schedule, the metro wins.
How this page should change your next email
Forward the checklist sections to your installer and ask for written replies against each bullet. Vague “we handle that” answers are why handover packs fail at sale or inspection time. Serious firms answer with model numbers, photo proofs and document names.
Numbers to write on one page before you pay a deposit
- Relevant kW / kWh / limit values named on the quote.
- Who commissions and who signs the CoC.
- Which photos will exist on handover day.
- Which municipal or OEM form will be filed.
- What happens if approval lags (zero-export / export-limit plan).
Related: choose installer · install timeline · FAQ · contact.
Firmware passwords and household access
Export-limit menus are often behind installer passwords. Escrow the password with the homeowner pack or use an OEM owner account that can view (not always edit) the limit. When the only person who can prove zero-export leaves the country, inspection day gets expensive — choose installer · monitoring.
Write the firmware version next to the limit value. Updates can reset menus; re-run the kettle proof test after any update — CT clamps.
Desk cross-links worth opening next
Read a quote · CoC · SSEG need · zero-export · ATS · selling · costs & savings · batteries.
Educational ranges only — confirm live metro, Eskom and OEM documents the week you sign. Soft brand mentions on this desk always carry a named fact; they are not national rankings.
Homeflex and municipal caps side by side
Eskom Homeflex Gen-offset rules and municipal feed-in caps are not interchangeable menu presets. If you move house from Cape Town to an Eskom erf, re-commission the limit against the new permission letter — Gen-offset · net billing · 2026 tariffs.
Pending SSEG vs approved export
Many metros expect zero-export or a tight limit until the bi-directional meter and file are approved. Write the interim limit on the handover sheet and calendar the day it should be raised. Leaving a 0 kW limit forever silently dumps surplus that could have been a small credit — zero-export · SSEG timelines.
Quick questions
Is export-limit the same as switching the inverter off?
No — it modulates output so loads still get solar while export stays within the set limit.
Do I still need SSEG if I set zero export?
Often yes for parallel grid-tied hybrids — confirm your metro. Zero-export is a mode, not a blanket exemption.
Can the limit be raised later?
Yes, after written approval and meter works — change settings only with the installer and keep screenshots.
App vs device — which setting wins
Some brands mirror export-limit in the cloud app; the device flash is authoritative offline. After any app change, confirm the inverter screen still shows the approved kW cap and re-run the kettle test — firmware updates · monitoring.